Device for shaping metal bars



Nov. 11, 1969 R. SCHOFFMANN 3,477,268

DEVICE FOR SHAPING METAL BARS Filed July 10, 1967 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.

k0 INVENTOR RUDOLF SCH CSFFMANN mgif/sw w HIS ATTORNEYS Nov. 11, 1969 R. SCHGFFMANN 3,477,268

DEVICE FOR SHAPING METAL BARS Filed July 10, 1967 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG? [NVENTOR RUDOLF SCHOFFMANN H IS ATTORNEYS Nov. 11, 1969 Filed July 10, 1967 FIG. 3

R. SCHOFFMAN N DEVICE FOR SHAPING METAL BARS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR RUDOLF SCHGFFMANN HIS AT TORN EYS Nov. 11, 1969 R. SCHOFFMANN DEVICE FOR SHAPING METAL BARS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed July 10, 1967 [NVENTOR RUDOLF SCHOFFMANN- HIS ATTORNEYS United States Patent US. Cl. 72-234 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Apparatus for shaping metal bars is described, comprising a plurality of rolling mills arranged in a row, with the directions of the rolls on successive mills alternating between horizontal and vertical. The rolls of each pair are supported on respective rockers that are hinged at one end and pivotally adjustable by hydraulic means to vary the spacing between rolls. Synchronization means couple the rockers of each mill to divide the movement provided by the shifting means equally between the rockers to obtain symmetrical movement of the rolls relative to the center line of the gap between the rolls.

The invention relates to an apparatus for shaping metal bars, particularly in connection with a continuous casting plant, said apparatus comprising rolling mills which are arranged in a row one after the other and contain pairs of rolls, the bar being continuously shaped in the roll gap of said rolling mills, of which suitably one having horizontally arranged rolls alternates with one having vertically arranged rolls.

A problem in the operation of continuous casting plants is the fabrication of metal bars of small crosssection, which can immediately be processed in small section rolling mills. In the usual plants, the cast bar leaves the mould with a cross-section which is usually larger than 80 x 80 mm. The cross-section of this bar has to be reduced on a cogging train. On such cogging trains, where suitably rolling mills having horizontally arranged rolls alternate with such having vertically arranged rolls, difiiculties are involved in guiding the bar level with the roll gaps of the consecutive roll stands. As only one roll, usually the upper roll, of known plants can be adjusted during the rolling process, it is necessary to adjust the other (lower) roll in advance, eg by base-plates or supports or by hand-operated adjusting means, to the desired feed axis. A large amount of preparatory work is connected therewith. A further disadvantage of the known plants resides in the fact that the adjusting range of the work rolls is too small, so that bars having the large cross-section of the mould cannot pass the roll gap.

The present invention has as its object to avoid these disadvantages and difiiculties and consists in a device of the afore-mentioned kind, wherein the rolls of each pair of rolls are supported on rockers movable over a large adjusting range, a synchronization means for swinging both rockers of each pair being provided, which enforces a symmetrical adjusting of the upper and lower rolls relative to the center line of the roll gap.

A hydraulic cylinder, which is hinged to the ends of the rockers, is suitably provided for operating the rockers. The means for synchronization of a pair of rockers may consist, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, of a pair of tongs or a fork provided on one rocker, a tooth provided on the other rocker meshing therewith. The contact surfaces of fork and tooth are suitably made of a wear-resistant material of good sliding properties.

The invention is illustrated in the drawing by way of an embodiment thereof. FIG. 1 is a ground-plan and FIG. 2 an elevation of the plant. FIGS. 3 and 4 demonstrate the operating of a pair of rockers and the functioning of the synchronization means, FIG. 3 showing the pair or rockers with the rolls in adjusted position, FIG. 4 in open position. FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate a modified embodiment of the synchronization means, FIG. 5 again showing the adjusted position and FIG. 6 the opened position.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show rolling mills having horizontally arranged rolls alternating with rolling mills having vertically arranged rolls. The first rolling mill having horizontally arranged rolls is designated by 1, the following having vertically arranged rolls by 2, the following having horizontally arranged rolls by 3, and the following, again having vertically arranged rolls, by 4. Each rolling mill has a motor and a gear, numbered M M M M and G G G G respectively.

As evident from FIG. 2, the gears are mounted on the base-plate 5 of the machine. Bearing bolts 6, 6 project from the gears, the rockers 7, 7 being hingedly mounted thereon with one end. These rockers carry rolls 8, 8' enclosing the roll gap 9. The other ends of the two rockers 7, 7 are connected by a hydraulic cylinder 10. When it is operated, the rockers are opened and closed and the roll gap between rolls 8, 8' can thus be adjusted. Numeral 11 denotes the synchronization means, which is illustrated in detail in FIGS. 3 and 4.

The embodiment of the synchronization means as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 comprises a pair of tongs or a fork 12 provided on rocker 7, a tooth 13 provided on the other rocker 7' meshing therewith. This tooth has a cylindrical contact surface 14 rotatable in a cylindrical recess of the fork 12. The contact surface 14 is suitably made of a wear-resistant material of good sliding properties.

The functioning of the synchronization means is illustrated in FIG. 4, which shows that the rockers 7, 7' are movable away from the center line 15 of the roll gap only around substantially equal angles.

In the modified embodiment of the synchronization means, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the tooth 13 of rocker 7 engages in the recess 16 of tongs 12 as in a spur gear. The two rockers 7, 7' are movable away from the center line 15 of the roll gap only around equal angles (a' and a), as shown in FIG. 6. Thus, an accurate synchronism is safeguarded.

Owing to the large adjusting range of the rolls and the forced synchronization, the plant according to the invention enables a continuous reducing of the bars without employment of a cogging train, avoids excessive preparatory work as necessary in known plants, and furnishes a product which can immediately be processed in small-section mills, e.g. for manufacturing rods or the like.

What I claim is:

1. Apparatus for shaping metal bars comprising, a plurality of rolling mills arranged in a row one behind the other, said respective rolling mills alternately having horizontally and vertically arranged rolls, each of said mills havilng a pair of working rolls containing a roll gap for continuous shaping of said bars, a rocker hinged adjacent one end for supporting each of said rolls, shifting means coupled between the rockers supporting the respective rolls of each pair for pivotally moving said rockers over a large adjusting range, and synchronization means for dividing the adjustment provided by said shifting means equally to both rockers of each pair to obtain symmetrical movement of both said working rolls relative to the center line of said roll gap.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said shifting means comprises hydraulic means hinged to said rockers at the other ends thereof.

3. Apparatus for shaping metal bars comprising, a plurality of rolling mills arranged in a row one behind the other, said respective rolling mills alternately having horizontally and vertically arranged rolls, each of said mills having a pair of working rolls containing a roll gap for continuous shaping of said bars, a rocker for supporting each of said rolls, shifting means coupled between the rockers supporting the respective rolls of each pair for moving said rockers over a large adjusting range, and synchronization means including tongs provided on one of said rockers and a cooperating tooth provided on the other of said rockers and meshing with said tongs, the contacting surfaces of said tongs and tooth being of wear resistant material having good sliding properties,

1,858,788 5/1933 Rohn 72-235 2,774,263 12/1956 Leufven 72-248 3,269,161 8/1966 Greis 72-249 3,309,909 3/1967 Wilson 72237 3,336,781 8/1967 Wilson et al. 72248 MILTON S. MEHR, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 72-245 

